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List volumes - List articles in this issueSafety of methylphenidate following traumatic brain injury: Impact on vital signs and side-effects during inpatient rehabilitation
doi: 10.2340/16501977-0369
Abstract:
Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety of methylphenidate administered during inpatient rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury.
Methods: Forty inpatients with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (mean 68.4 days post-injury) participated in a randomized, cross-over, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of methylphenidate administered at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg body weight twice daily.
Results: Methylphenidate administration resulted in a statistically significant increase in pulse of 12.3 beats/min (95% confidence interval (CI) 9.25–15.36), diastolic blood pressure of 4.1 mmHg (95% CI 2.11–6.10), and mean arterial pressure of 3.75 mmHg (95% CI 1.79–5.72). These changes did not, however, appear to be symptomatic, as no participants were withdrawn due to adverse events, and there was no significant self-report of increased heart rate with methylphenidate. Blinding was successful. Significantly greater reporting of irritability of 0.14 points (95% CI 0.02–0.26), difficulty sleeping of 0.17 points (95% CI 0.02–0.31) and total side-effects of 0.68 points (95% CI 0.06–1.30) was associated with methylphenidate compared with placebo.
Conclusion: Methylphenidate given at 0.3 mg/kg body weight appears to be safe in the inpatient rehabilitation phase. This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (12607000503426).
Authors:
Catherine Willmott, Jennie Ponsford, John Olver, Michael Ponsford